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first night in my DIY (pics & comments)

Well, I made my first DIY hammock along the lines of Just Jeff's and Risk's webpages. The material was more expensive than I thought. The rip stop nylon was $22 from JoAnn's Fabrics. The spectra climbing cord was cheap only $4 but the 800 lb. 1" nylon webbing was $11 at a local hardware store. It weighs in at just over 1 lb..

It was pretty easy to make. I used a friend's sewing machine to hem the edges. It was surprisingly comfortable. It did stretch and sag a bit over the course of the night but that's to be expected.

It sprinkled a litle bit and I stayed dry. I have yet to use this tarp in a heavy rain so I don't know how it'd stand up to a heavy downpour. It needs to a better seam sealing than the inadequate stock job. I had a bit of trouble finding a good place to hang since I was car-camping in an old-growth forest dominated with large trees. The hammock ends were too close to the ends of the tarp so heavy rain could've dripped down.

The next step is to attach the mosquito net. I bought 3 yards from REI for about $9.75 and wrapped/tied it to the hammock's ends. It works OK draped over the hammock and hanging down but determined mosquitos could get in.

Total cost $48 and weighs about 2 lbs. 5 oz.(lighter than my Crazy Creek Crib LEX). A HH A-sym UL is much lighter and probably more comfortable but I'm very hesitant to spend $140+ on a hammock.

pets and hammocks

Our pets seem to like this hammock kick that I'm on. That cat hopped up in the homemade hammock with my wife with no hesitation at all.

My bird dog (GWP) hops up into the Crazy Creek Lex Crib hammock (my first hammock) real quick. It has a 300 lb. limit. He spent 3 nights in that hammock with me so far. But, the homemade hammock is totally off-limits to his extra 70 lbs.! The bird dog and the Aussie shepard did just fine sleeping under the tarp and DIY hammock.

Cannibal:

The sweater has a hood with a little frilly thing on the top. It's hilarious! My wife bought it from a pet store down on the Oregon Coast. It's imported from Peru and hand-sewed. The dog didn't like it at first but since he's cold much of the time. Now, he can't camp without it!

The Cascades normally aren't very cold in summer even though we're only about 5 miles from the Canadian border. The nearby Pacific Ocean and Puget Sound moderate temperatures so it doesn't normally get real cold at night. There's a lot of steep, rocky, timbered slopes so hammocks work well in the Cascades.

This DIY hammock worked out pretty well and was easy to make. Some people we know may getting hammocks for Christmas. LOL.

This DIY hammock worked out pretty well and was easy to make. Some people we know may getting hammocks for Christmas. LOL.

Good idea!

I just completed 2 hammocks for birthday presents for my nephew and BIL. (I ran out of time for tarp-making and ended up buying SG Camo "Neo" tarps for them.) It won't be too long before more folks in my family end up with hammocks for Christmas and birthday presents.

"Civilization is the limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities." - Mark Twain
“I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.” - John Burroughs